ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the truck driver who rammed his vehicle into a crowd of pedestrians in Jerusalem, killing at least four people and injuring 15, was likely to be a supporter of Islamic State.

The 67-year-old leader told a press conference at the site of the attack: ""We know the identity of the attacker, according to all the signs he is a supporter of Islamic State. We have sealed off Jabel Mukabar, the neighbourhood from where he came, and we are carrying out other actions which I will not detail.”

The truck and driver was shot at by security services at least 11 times after it rammed into a popular promenade - Armon Hanatziv - overlooking the walled Old City.

Eyewitnesses said the truck hit a group of unsuspecting people who had been getting off a coach as they arrived at the popular spot in the southern part of the city.

Mr Netanyahu visited the scene and convened his security cabinet, a forum of senior ministers, to discuss Israel's response.

He said: "We know the identity of the attacker. According to all the signs he is a supporter of Islamic State."

The Israeli PM said that security forces were controlling access in and out of the neighbourhood.

Authorities have called it a deliberate attack.

A police spokeswoman said: "It is a terrorist attack, a ramming attack."

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Three women and one man all in their 20s, who were members of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), were killed during the terror attack.

The soldiers were taking a tour of the city when the Mercedes flat-bed truck drove straight at them.

Paramedic Landy Sharon, who arrived at the scene, said he "saw a truck that hit a group of young people that got off a bus near the Armon Hanatziv observation post."

He said: "About ten people were lying on the ground near the street. Some of the were trapped under the truck."

AFP • GETTY

An Israeli soldier is lead away after the terror attack in Jerusalem

He rammed them a number of times, going into reverse and forward in order to hurt more people

Tour guide Haim Neuman

While Haim Neuman, a tour guide who was with the soldiers that were attacked, said the Palestinian terrorist drove over the victims numerous times to inflict as much damage as possible.

He said: “The soldiers got off the bus, and we were getting organised when suddenly the truck came with great speed and rammed into the group. Civilians and soldiers began shooting and this prevented a worse tragedy.

“He rammed them a number of times, going into reverse and forward in order to hurt more people.”

AFP • GETTY

Israel security forces at the scene of the Jerusalem truck terror attack

Reuters

The truck was fired on at least 11 times, killing the driver

A bus driver who witnessed the attack said: "They shot him, until they neutralised him."

A report on Israel Radio said that bodies were "strewn on the street".

The media outlet added the driver was a Palestinian but did not immediately give his name.

Reuters

Authorities at the scene of the terror attack in Jerusalem

Lia Schreiber, one of the guides for the group of soldiers, said: “I was explaining about the view of Jerusalem. I saw soldiers shouting and screaming. Some of the soldiers started shooting. It took some time to kill [the driver] so he was able to reverse. The whole thing took maybe a minute and a half.”

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said: "A lone terrorist rammed deliberately into the group of soldiers. Forensic experts are now at the scene and we are looking into if it was a planned or opportunistic attack. We are currently looking at the ID of the driver of the truck."

Mr Rosenfeld confirmed that 10 people had been taken to hospital and heightened security had been put in place around the city.

AFP

Authorities fired at least 11 bullets into the truck's windscreen

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The Mercedes truck used in the Jerusalem terror attack

At least two of the injured were said to be in a serious condition, according to the Magen David Adom ambulance service.

it is believed to be one of the worst terrorist attacks in the city in recent months.

A wave of Palestinian street attacks, including vehicle rammings, has largely slowed but not stopped completely since it began in October 2015.

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